• Wild Ark, Aussie Ark, and Global Wildlife Conservation award $16,000 to Native Mouse Ecological Consulting (NMEC) and Atkins Ecological Contracting (AEC) for their project ‘Testing the post-fire resilience of the Yellow-bellied and Greater Glider in Far East Gippsland. 
• The Australian Endangered Species Recovery Grant is part of the Koala Comeback Campaign, and aims to provide funding for organisations carrying out research projects that quantify the bushfires’ impact on Australia’s threatened species

Together with our partners Aussie Ark and Global Wildlife Conservation, we have awarded $16,000 to Native Mouse Ecological Consulting (NMEC) and Atkins Eco Contracting (AEC) for their project ‘Testing the post-fire resilience of the Yellow-bellied and Greater Glider in Far East Gippsland’, as part of their Australian Endangered Species Recovery Grants. 

The 2019-20 bushfires burned through large areas of Yellow-bellied and Great glider habitat and it is believed thousands of gliders may have perished in the aftermath. Lead Ecologists Dr Phoebe Burns and Dr Zak Atkins’ research will identify how the species fared within the fire scar which will help land-management agencies to accurately assess the species status, and plan for the long-term conservation of this unique gliding marsupial. Their surveys are targeting remote areas of Far East Gippsland where surveys are critically needed.

“This grant has helped fill a massive gap in funding for post-fire data on many species,” said grant recipient Dr. Phoebe Burns of Native Mouse Ecological Consulting. “The data we’ve already collected has helped contribute to state and federal bushfire elicitation and planning, making sure our projects have maximum impact!”

The Australian Endangered Species Recovery Grant is part of the Koala Comeback Campaign and aims to provide funding for organisations carrying out research projects that quantify the bushfires’ impact on Australia’s threatened species and identify urgent needs that exist for wildlife living in fire-affected areas.

Ten exceptional projects will be awarded grants of up to $16000 for their outcomes-based research that has measurable outcomes in the next 12 months. Much of this research includes species population surveys, protecting unburnt habitat, or implementing other critical interventions identified by species experts.

Thanks to generous donations, the #KoalaComeback campaign, a partnership between WildArk, Global Wildlife Conservation and David Yarrow Photography, has supported many organisations working on the frontlines bushfire recovery and habitat protection in the wake of the 2091-2020 bushfires.

Read more about the Australian Endangered Species Recovery Fund HERE.